IllScarlett — 1Up!

1Up!

Sony

Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

10/28/2009 2:26pm

IllScarlett are moving up in the world and, while it's good for them, it's not for me.

The Mississauga, Ont. quartet co-produced their new album with Grammy Award-winning producer Robert Carranza (Bjork, Beastie Boys) in Los Angeles after working on 2007's All Day With It in the same city with producer Matthew Wilder (No Doubt, Natalie Imbruglia). Unfortunately, I liked what I heard them do during early Toronto club gigs and on 2006's EPdemic EP more than this latest material.

Reggae rhythms run through most of the songs, which is fine, but what the group adds to them loses me a bit. Opening track and lead single "Take It For Granted," for example, doesn't sound a whole lot different from a lot of the generic repertoire that makes up too much of modern rock radio playlists these days. The group also try to win points with hip-hop fans by inviting Kardinal Offishall to rap on "Milkshakes And Razorblades."

"Funky Reputation" sounds like 311 meets pop-punk, while "Get Famous (Tonight)" has a harder edge. I appreciate the bigger dub influence on "Can't Sleep," but IllScarlett seem most effective when the acoustic guitar and reggae elements fuse on "Freezing" and "Sorry."

All Day With It was certified gold and the band's growing fan base may push 1Up! to that sales level, too. So with at least 40,000 Canadian fans at their disposal, IllScarlett have no great need for me to remain on the bandwagon, so I think I'll jump off.

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